Tobacco-clipper



J. D. STAUFFER.

TOBACCO-CLIPPER.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR 15, Isw.

Patented May 27, 1919.

'mmma rare.

TOBACCO-CLIPPER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH D. STAUFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coatesville, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco- Clippers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tobacco cutters and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved means for cutting tobacco in a field, which will effectively and easily cut tobacco stems with a minimum amount of exertion on the-operators part.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved tobacco cutter in eluding a pair of pivoted blades having angular ends extending in opposite directions, a pair of pivoted operating levers fulcrumed intermediate their ends to a supporting plate, one end of the levers being pivotally secured to the inner ends of the blades, the outer ends of the handles being curved upwardly, so as to be in convenient reach of the operator.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved tobacco cutter which is supported upon a roller so that the weight of the device will be taken off of the operators arms.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the above character which is durable and efficient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one that can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved tobacco clipper showing the handles broken away.

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse sectional View through the blades taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the supporting wheel.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary side elevation Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed March 15, 1918. Serial No. 222,650.

showing the operating arms extending upwardly, so that the same can be conveniently reached by the operator.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 generally indicates the improved tobacco cutter, which includes a pair of relatively wide flat blades 2 and 3 having their inner edges beveled to form cutting edges 4, the ends of the blades being gradually tapered and rounded as at 5. The inner ends of the blades 2 and 3 are bent outwardly in opposite directions to provide operating arms 6 which are slotted as at 7 to receive pins 8 carried by the inner ends of the operating levers 9. Arm 6 of blade 3 may be slightly offset so as to be in the plane of the arm of blade 2, as indicated in Fig. 1. The operating levers 9 have their inner ends bent outwardly in opposite directions as at 10 to overlie the inner ends of the arms 6 of the blades 2 and 3. The meeting edges of the handles 9 are provided with intermeshing offset teeth 11 so that the handles will be moved together. Supporting plates 12 are positioned above and below the handles 9 and the handles are socured to the same by means of pivot pins 13 and the handles move on the pins as fulerums. The plates 12 also hold the teeth 11 in engagement with each other. Plates 14: are positioned above and below the blades 2 and 3 intermediate the ends thereof and the blades are pivoted to the same by means of pivot pins 15 and the blades swing on these pins. The meeting edges of the blades at the rear end thereof are provided with plates 16 secured on the opposite faces of the blades and having their meeting ends curved oppositely and concentric with pin 15 and provided with intermeshing teeth 17 so that the blades will be swung together. The outer ends of the operating levers 9 are curved upwardly as at 18 so as to be in convenient reach of the operator and are provided with handles 19. The lower plate 12 is provided with an inverted U-shaped bracket 20 which is secured at its bight portion to the central portion of the plate 12 as at 21. A shaft 22 is journaled between the arms of the shaped bracket and a roller 23 is mounted on the axle. The roller 23 is adapted to engage the ground and supports the device.

tening elements 25 hold the same in position.- The angle plate 24 forms means to engage the stalks of the. tobacco so that the same will fall to one side of the device after the same have been cut.

In operation. of the improved tobacco cutter, the" same is Wheeled doWn a row of tobacco to be cut and the operating handles 19 are operated so as to throw thelblades outwardly and upon inward movement of the handles 19, the blades will be brought into engagement with each other and a stalk Will be severed and the angle plate 245 will engage the same and thus guide the stalks to one side of the device.

o In practice, I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most ellicient and practical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent With the adoption bf m device will necessaril vary, I desire toemphasize that various minor changes indetails of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, When required Without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as set forth.

, hat Iclaim as new is:

A tobacco cutter of the class described comprising a frame,a roller supporting the frame, a pair of lovers pivoted intermediate their ends to the frame, a plate, a pair of blades pivoted to'the plate, means operatively connecting the inner ends of the blades to the inner ends of the levers, and an angle plate secured to one of the blades adjacent the cutting edge thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH D. STAUFFER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM Tnnrrmsnn,

HOWARD EvANs;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

